Personal notice, danger is my stock and trade.
If the job is too tough for you to handle, you got a job for me, George Valentine.
Write full details.
The Standard Oil Company of California, on behalf of independent Chevron gas stations and standard stations throughout the West, invites you to let George do it.
The Man Behind the Frame, another adventure of George Valentine.
The Man Behind the Frame, another adventure of George Valentine.
The Man Behind the Frame, another adventure of George Valentine.
The Man Behind the Frame, another adventure of George Valentine.
Dear Mr. Valentine, my name is Vic Burnett, Federal Office Equipment Company.
You remember, the guy sold you the wire recorder for your office.
Well, I'll cancel out the last three payments on it if you come down fast to the county jail.
I need help. A crazy rube I brought into town for a convention, just so he could see the sights, is now staring at the inside of a cell.
He's been locked up for murder.
Okay, Mr. Burnett, okay.
But I feel responsible for him. He's never been down here before. He's not even a salesman. You see, up in Emmitsville, I have this...
You want to see him, Valentine, or don't you?
Just a minute, Lieutenant Johnson.
He's never done anything but read comic books, but I can't let him get railroaded like a common every...
Well, he's sure he's not being railroaded for anything, and a woman is dead, isn't she?
Miss Brooks, listen to me. This kid is absent...
That's a good idea. You listen to her, Brooksie. Come on, Johnson.
Gladly.
Valentine, wait a minute.
I just want to hear it from the kid himself, that's all.
What a job. My poor boy's in the hands of the law.
Oh, well, that guy's just trying to help.
I'm an old man. Guys like Burnett help me get that way.
What's eating you?
You'll see. Here, through here.
A woman was murdered, huh? I'll take it from there.
Hotel apartment where she lived, name was Sally Fife. High-speed typist.
Hmph. Typist.
Yeah, where'd he meet her? What happened?
You'll see.
Oh, look, Johnson.
Blow on the side of the head with a bottle.
Oh. Little party?
Little gal about 35, fast talker, neat, clean, small business of her own that didn't amount to anything.
Fight? Sure, a fight of some kind. What else?
This is a very refreshing original story.
Why was the kid picked up? Were there witnesses?
He was caught trying to run down a fire escape this morning.
Taking us all day to even pry his name out of him.
Well, I don't see why.
He's 26. Skinny, sandy-haired, pimply-faced 26, and probably never earned more than 26 a week in his life, either.
You'll see for yourself.
Ah.
Hey, wake up. Ferguson.
Oh, excuse me. Hello, sir. Sure.
Oh, don't stand up, kid. I just thought you were asleep.
No, sir, I can't sleep. I just shut my eyes like that.
I do it in the office sometimes so people don't know I'm thinking.
Okay, I'm not sir. This is Mr. Valentine.
Sure. How do you do, sir? Whatever you say.
Yeah, hello. Sit down, Lawrence.
Yeah. You want to hear it too, I guess. I don't feel very good, you know.
Last night you had some drinks.
Yeah. See, Mr. Valentine, I'm just a clerk in the office up in Emmetsville. I mean, been there nine years.
Uh-huh.
I've begged so many times to come to conventions of Boss. It's Mr. Burnett. He even...
Last night you went to a movie, and after that a bar called the Silver Duck and you had some drinks.
Uh-huh. There was a banquet on the schedule, but of course, I'm not a regular salesman. I mean, just a clerk.
No. But I do handle the Boss's correspondence and the district records and things.
Well, I was alone last night. I don't know anybody in the city or anything.
You knew this woman, didn't you? This Sally Fife?
No.
What?
No, I didn't. Not until then. In the bar, I mean.
He met her there. Very refreshing. It's true, too.
Go on.
Well, I had several, I guess. You know how it is when a guy's alone on the town, so to speak.
I don't remember very well, but I guess I met her. She was awful nice. Anyway, some time later, I didn't feel very well.
Yeah, sure.
It was a long way back to the hotel, and she said she'd make me some coffee up at her place close by.
But she was nice. I don't want you guys thinking anything.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. We know all about it. Tell them what happened when you got there.
I've told you. I don't know. It's not clear. I'm not used to...
I mean, I don't know whether I drink the coffee or not. All I know is that it's daylight and I'm asleep on the sofa.
All right, hold it, kid. Hold it. There was a fight, wasn't there? You had trouble with this girl, and then...
Oh, stop it. Leave me alone. All right. I ran. Sure, I ran. I tried to get out the fire escape, only my head was all dizzy.
I would have got away if it hadn't been for that.
That's this morning when they caught you. Get back to last night.
Well...
There she was. Dead.
What do you think? I killed her?
Oh, you did. Well, tell me about it. Refreshing, original story.
I don't know. Tell you what. I wanted to have excitement, what it feels like to be kicked around and yelled at by all them salesmen.
A clerk, sure. He'll never get any place. They're all fakes, all of them.
Loud mouthed jerks. I could wrap around my finger any time you asked.
Salesmen, I'm better than any of them.
Quiet it out, kid. Now, easy. You said you killed a woman.
I was. Don't you see? Nobody else was up there, I remember.
I'm sorry. I'll shoot my mouth off, but I'm just trying to forget. I wish I was just being a clerk now.
Oh, I remember. Forget.
It was her idea. You had some coffee last night, I suppose.
Well, it seems that way. It wasn't mine. How did you know?
Oh, for the love of... Kid, haven't you ever heard of a thing like this happening to anybody besides you?
What? Well, nobody ever got in trouble like this before. Nobody ever did the things that I must.
Oh, cut it out, Rube. I can't stand today. Well, the facts are all true, Valentine. The ones we can check. Same old story.
What are you talking about? I'm just a guy who...
Hasn't it ever occurred to you you might be a sucker?
Oh, never mind, Johnson. Never mind. What's he held for? He signed a confession of anything?
You think I'm milk, take milk away from babies? Suspicion, that's all.
Then how about taking him out of here? What's the name of that boy you said, the Silver Duck?
Come on, Lawrence. I want to see if you know how to swim.
What's the idea, Mr. Valentine? This is where I was all right, but...
Relax, relax. Nobody's noticing my hand cut.
Yeah, but just to stand here all the time.
Keep watching. Neighborhood place, same people every night. It's about the same time now, too.
The girl, Valentine, that's the part of it that doesn't fit. She wasn't the type, wasn't a regular customer.
Yeah, Johnson, it does fit.
I'm just all mixed up. I want to go back to this...
Lawrence, on your first night in the big city, how did you meet this Sally Fife?
Uh, how about a demonstration? I want to see how a boy from the stick strikes up a conversation with a strange woman.
Well, I know my way around, huh? Oh, no, I don't know. She said hello to him. What do you think? He probably blushed, too.
Johnson, you contradict yourself. You said she wasn't quite the type. Brisk, sharp lady with a job.
There's one, that guy.
Huh, which one? Point him out.
There, with the cigar. Just came in. Oh, I don't know. I'm not sure. I must have seen all the people over here last night. I remember the waiters.
Excuse me.
Valentine, wake up.
What's the most likely way the kid here met Sally Fife? Got picked for a patsy or whatever it was. Somebody probably introduced him, don't you think? So I'll see you later.
Hello, friend.
Oh, excuse me.
Just wondered if I could borrow your newspaper a minute. Hey, what kind of a cigar is that?
It's a change, Luffy. 15, 20, 25.
Okay, Jake, I'll see you.
Wait a minute, friend.
The newspaper? Help yourself. See you later, Jake.
And sit still. What are you picking the fifth? Must have hit it nice, them fancy cigars, paying off your debt.
I still got to figure out a high idea. Hey, look at all my arm, man.
I want to ask the bartender, Jake, here about you.
What do you want? He's all right, mister.
Sit down, sit down. Name's Luffy, huh?
What do you want?
Turn around. That skinny young guy standing over there. Ever see him before? One next to the heavy-set man?
No. Hey, Jake, what do you let snoops like this in for? Luffy's all right, mister.
Luffy, you haven't been dope on the races in Hialeah.
The papers turned to the front page. News about a murder. And that kid's picture.
So at least you've seen him before in the paper, haven't you?
I didn't notice. Hey, what do you want? Here, Jake, here's my selections, all of them. I'm getting out of this.
Sure, Luffy.
Give me that. Hey, look out.
Get your hands off of me.
I got them so cool off. That other guy coming is a cop.
I got nothing to be afraid of.
Oh, no, no, no. Just wanted to get rid of these notes in your pocket.
Only they're not all racing selections either, are they, Luffy? Pawn ticket, huh?
Mister, I told you, Luffy here's all right.
What's going on, Valentine?
I don't know, Johnson. Pawn ticket for a thousand bucks.
What?
Yeah. No wonder he pays his debts today. Smokes such fancy cigars.
Now, look, Colly, I ain't got nothing to hide. I just been wondering what to do about it, that's all. I'm Luffy Fife.
Huh? Fife, did you say?
Sure. This dame-a got killed it. Well, I've been wondering if I should volunteer as expert testimony or something.
I mean, she's my wife. Rhymes. Sally Fife, she's my wife.
Well, how do you like... Come on, friend, we're gonna have a little talk.
Now, look, old mate, take it easy, eh? I ain't done nothing.
Oh, no. Just hocked a mink coat for a thousand dollars.
Well, that's what it says here on the pawn ticket, one mink coat.
Oh, here's no doubt. Well, it's a cold night.
All right, so what? So I did so much. Sure it's here, but I've done it before. She don't mind.
I always get a win the next day. Brings me luck, that's all.
Brings a little quick cash. She don't mind.
If you're talking about your wife, what do you mean? That she's too dead now to mind?
Cut it out, I said. She and me were just friends, God rest her soul.
So stop looking at me that way. I didn't kill her with a boss. Ain't it, soul-jake?
That's what you call platonic, that's all.
Pickin' the guy who gave her the mink, not me. Sure, go up to Emmetsville.
Big shot salesman, he's the one. Vic Burnett. Yeah, ask Vic Burnett.
We'll return to tonight's adventure of George Valentine in just a moment.
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Music
And now back to tonight's adventure of George Valentine.
As salesmen of all FOE, we will have prosperity.
Prosperity for the last 32 years.
Our products from tears, it's the best office machinery.
Vic Burnett, the big man from Emmitsville here in town for a convention.
He wanted you to help one of his employees, the young clerk, Lawrence Ferguson.
Because Lawrence was locked up in jail for murder, too confused even to defend himself.
The only trouble is though, the girl Lawrence said that he met for the first time last night,
the night of her murder, now seems to have been mixed up with Vic Burnett himself.
So if your name is George Valentine, you're pretty much inclined to agree with Claire Brooks when she says...
I never did like his looks, George, from the day he sold us this wire machine.
I didn't like the kind of stories he told.
Sure, sure, Brooksie, but don't break the recorder on account of him.
You got the rest of my notes on it?
Oh, didn't you finish? I'll hook it up on the phone again.
No, no, that's all. Burnett didn't tell you where he was going after he left the county jail, did he?
No.
How do you like that? Write up your notes for a client that doesn't even...
Well, we can't find him either, Brooksie.
Salesman must have sold himself a powder and then taken it.
Mr. Valentine, now you're just getting my boss in trouble. He wouldn't have done a thing like that.
Kid, you want to save your job or your neck?
I don't know. I'm all confused. I don't feel very good. This place just reminds me of...
Lawrence, we brought you here to her apartment to see what else you could remember.
Well, I'm not helping any. I know I'm not helping any, but if you just leave him out of it...
Burnett, send this up to his ears. Now, for the last time, relax. Forget what a sucker you've been and think.
I'm trying, Lieutenant. That's the couch I woke up on. I know that.
Go wash the glasses. Did you?
No, I don't think so.
Must have been drugged.
Clean glasses.
Liquor stains on the table and floor.
I came up here to have a cup of coffee, I know, but...
Kid, that husband, Loopy. You saw him in the bar when you met her.
Didn't you see him up here too later on? Sure you did, didn't you?
I didn't see anybody here except her.
Oh, for the love...
Hey, Rube, wait for us here. And by the way, there's a sergeant outside the other door.
Well, going to get around to me now, huh?
Just wanted to give you time to make your story good, Loopy.
I know you guys. Think if you keep me cool, I'll get hotter, hey?
Well, let me tell you, I'm just a husband, see, but we're divorced.
I'm not surprised. She was a businesswoman.
Little sharp around the edges, maybe, but standing a guy like you as a horse of another color...
Incompatible, that's all. Just one of them things.
Give the little lady her happiness, I said, but still play thonic.
So I'll spot for old Loopy, you know how it is, which brings me to the mink coke.
A little matter which was over and done with yesterday afternoon.
A little load of the mink, so Loopy could pick the horse of the right color.
If you don't mind my lifting your figures of speech.
Just saw her for a minute in that bar, but I never came up here later on.
Vic Burnett gave her the code, huh? Yes, sir, but you see...
When? Last year.
How long's he known her? Several years, maybe.
Fancy apartment. Her typing service didn't buy her all this.
It's how she met him. Special work on his district records or something.
He's down here a lot, and she used to write to his office when he wasn't.
Boyfriend, that's all. It's quite illegal.
In love with business.
And he paid her in mink.
Ah, right, so she knew a few things about him.
So she had a liking for the finer things.
Now you're warming up, friend.
She blackmailed him, huh? She did not.
You can't talk that way about my wife, God rest her soul.
I shakedown on it, so that's what you are...
I didn't say that! Oh, stop it!
Well, look what's here.
Pick them up over that office machine convention, lieutenant.
You see, I wasn't running anyplace.
Just dodging a little. I know, Mr. Burnett.
Hoping we'd have it all solved by now.
I'll hang on somebody else. Thanks, sergeant.
I guess you don't need me anymore, so I guess I'll just...
Oh, no, you don't, Louie. Stick around.
Okay, okay!
Listen to me. I want you guys to understand something.
I hired you, Valentine. Oh, forget that.
Yeah, to rescue a guy so dumb, he walked into the oldest frame up in history.
He was a real fool. No matter what he said, no jury would ever convict him.
But that doesn't mean you couldn't be the man behind the frame, does it?
Sure, he must be. Listen, I said, I would have told you everything.
You know how it is. Head salesman, travel a lot.
Why should I tell you about Sally?
She was my style. She never asked more than I could afford.
She was all right. She was a good sport.
When did you see her the last time? Last night, supper.
Go on, make something out of that.
Did you see supper? He's already at supper.
Well, I don't remember very nicely.
Was she wearing a mink coat at supper or wasn't she?
Sure, the one I gave her. Why?
Grab that guy. Louie!
Oh, no, your daughter! I'm not...
Sergeant Grebbing! Sergeant Grebbing! He's the one! He didn't get him!
He got away, George?
Oh, yeah, sure, of course he got away, Brooksie.
Johnson and Burnett after him like a couple of overfed bloodhounds.
The kid's here with me.
Oh. Wolf, why didn't you go with...
I wanted you to read me back some notes, that's all.
You see, the closet's been all torn up, ransacked.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
The closet's been all torn up, ransacked.
So it had to be Loopy who got the coat, we know that.
But he didn't get it until after supper.
So he was up here late, probably after he'd been in that bar.
George, he saw his wife with Lawrence,
so it would have been easy for him to follow them up there and...
Yeah, yeah, sure, it was...
George?
Yeah, I'm right here.
Look, I'll be back up to listen to those notes myself instead, OK?
Well, I'm just typing...
I'll be up at the office.
Let Johnson look for people, I'm all through.
Wait for me.
Notes for Burnett.
Interviewed Lawrence Ferguson.
Has stank of circumstantial evidence against him,
including the fact that he was caught running the scene of crime.
Oh, George, I'm just getting started on...
The only trouble is...
Oh.
Hello, ma'am.
I heard that voice and thought it was Mr. Valentine.
I thought you were.
You're Lawrence Ferguson, aren't you?
That's right.
You mind if I sit down to read it?
I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
You mind if I sit down to wait for him?
How'd you know?
No, no, sit down.
He described you, I guess.
Oh?
I was all dressed up last night.
I don't look like much anymore.
Don't be silly.
I thought George was with you.
I can't afford to buy the kind of clothes a salesman do.
They're jerks.
You know that?
Where is George?
Oh, I don't know.
He was on the phone.
I was waiting for him.
Then he hung up and took off like lightning.
Thought maybe he'd come over here.
Heard him say that.
I still got on one of my handcuffs.
I guess I better wait for him to take me back to jail.
That's all I'm here for.
Go on with your work.
I'll just sit here and wait.
Well, thank you.
Only trouble is a matter of a make-code.
Loopy, Sally Pipe's divorced no-good husband,
Hockett, for a thousand bucks, by the time the day.
Loopy got the coat last night.
When a man who committed murder,
maybe even with a coat as motive,
Hockett, seems to me he'd be a lot more likely to sell it.
Mr. Valentine's a smart man, isn't he?
At the time Loopy Hockett the coat,
today, he didn't even know his wife was dead.
I'm sort of like Mr. Valentine in some ways.
Smart.
Where is George? Tell me.
If he left to come here and you were with him,
he'd be here by now.
I don't know.
I'm waiting.
Just like you are.
Yeah.
He said the closet at Sally's apartment was all ransacked.
Loopy wouldn't do that, would he?
He'd know where the coat was.
Maybe he already got it.
You mean, while you were in that bar, with his wife?
Maybe.
She wasn't wearing it.
How did you know she even had a mint coat?
I don't know, ma'am.
I'm all mixed up.
Yes.
Play some more.
That machine the salesmen sell.
Big shots. Jerks.
They even got a song.
Salesman of all F.O.E.
We will have prosperity.
Isn't that a laugh?
Like a bunch of high school kids at a football game.
I see what goes on.
I can make more money than any of them.
Lawrence, stop.
Stop. I'll play it if you want.
Sell it?
Also, Mr. Burnett, it bothers me you'd hire me
and still keep things secret.
But you did hire me, so answer a few questions.
Your correspondence up there in Emmitsville,
Sally Fife did business with you,
so whoever handles your correspondence would know about her.
Check.
And that's your clerk, Lawrence.
He would have known about her through the handling of district records, too.
But he insists he didn't even know her name until last night.
Why?
Ah!
You killed her.
Poor innocent boy being framed.
You killed her.
Mr. Valentine, smart.
You're stupid.
You killed her and ran, but you got caught.
Leave it!
That's what she said.
I'm sorry.
They were sorry for me.
They thought I'd been framed because I made it look that way.
I used to lick her on the rug and the table.
I pretended.
I used to give Sally information about Mr. Burnett,
and then she'd get mink coats and things.
I don't care. I don't want to know.
She wouldn't give me my share.
She said I was stupid the same than you, so...
Don't...don't touch me.
Why not?
I have to kill you.
Get away!
Sally couldn't give me my share, but I got even with her.
And even if they caught me, I still made it look like I'd been framed.
I looked for the coat, but it was gone.
Get away, I said!
But it still got away!
Stop it!
You only came down and told me what you could see.
I wasn't!
I'm sorry.
They thought I'd been framed because I made it look that way.
I still lick her on the rug and the table.
I pretended.
I used to give Sally information about Mr. Burnett,
and then she'd get mink coats and things.
I'm not here. I don't want to know.
You turned that thing so out of record what I said.
You think you've got a confession, don't you?
Why's the button on this crazy thing?
I didn't know.
No, I didn't. You bumped it yourself.
You're gonna prove I am.
And so, Mr. Burnett, I guess you don't need a report.
The kid you wanted me to help is nothing but a pin-brained loony.
Where's your button? You turned it on and it went drop.
Oh, yes, it will, Buster.
Oh, George, you're here.
I'll show you the button.
Oh, George.
Now, hey, hey, Angel, cut it out. It's all over.
He didn't hurt you.
But I didn't know where you were.
I thought he'd done something to you.
Back when I was telephoning, he was outside with a cop.
He slugged him and ran.
But I told you I was coming right over.
George, why didn't you say what had happened?
Why didn't you...
Look, now, take it easy, Angel. I didn't want to scare you.
I wasn't positive he was headed here.
And besides, I came as fast as I could.
But you must have got here a long time ago.
You must have been standing outside and listening.
Well, Angel, it's all over, I say.
I know you needed real evidence against him already.
I wouldn't have let him hurt you, Angel.
Come on, let's go.
You didn't do that on purpose, did you?
I mean, not warn me and then let that...
Proxy, what kind of a guy do you think...
Well, it just happened that way.
Oh, look, darling, come here.
May I convince you?
No.
I don't believe you.
Oh, but...
Don't stop trying to convince me.
If at first you don't succeed...
Some things can be out of sight and out of mind
without creating any special problem.
But you really can't afford to forget about your car's battery.
Neglect the battery and you take chances
with your car's starting power
with the efficiency of headlights and taillights and accessories.
For your own convenience and safety,
have the battery inspected periodically at a standard station
or an independent Chevron gas station.
A few minutes for this car saver service tomorrow
may prevent hours of delay later on.
And you'll know that your battery has a high enough charge,
that the water level is right,
that terminal posts and clamps are clean.
You'll know that the battery is ready to give your car fast starts
and to keep the lights bright for night driving.
So for your own comfort and safety,
wouldn't it be wise to ask for battery inspection tomorrow?
Ask at your independent Chevron gas station or your standard station
where they say, and mean,
we take better care of your car.
Tonight's adventure of George Valentine has been brought to you
by Standard Oil Company of California
on behalf of independent Chevron gas stations
and standard stations throughout the West.
Robert Bailey has starred as George with Virginia Gregg as Bruxy.
Let George Do It is written by David Victor and Jackson Gillis
and directed by Don Clark.
Ken Christie is Lieutenant Johnson.
Ed Begley was heard as Burnett.
Rolland Morris as Lawrence.
Hal Gerard as Loopy.
And Jim Nusser as the bartender.
The music was composed and presented by Eddie Dunstetter.
Your announcer, John Heaston.
Listen again next week, same time, same station,
to Let George Do It.
Let George Do It is heard overseas
through the worldwide facilities of the Armed Forces Radio Service.
This is the Mutual Don Lee Broadcasting System.
Music.